Police car plows into shop after collision with bicycle

A Seattle police officer and a bicyclist were injured Wednesday morning when the officer's car collided with the bicyclist and then plowed into a sandwich shop.

The officer was traveling south in the 5300 block of First Avenue South shortly after 7 a.m. when he apparently veered to the left and hit the bicyclist, according to Seattle Police Sgt. Deanna Nollette.

"We don't know at what point he collided with the bicyclist," said Nollette. "We know something went wrong, but we don't know what at this point."

The officer's cruiser then ran into the sub shop, Nollette said. Firefighters had to cut open the squad car to get the officer out.

The bicycle was knocked under a cement truck.

The officer is not being identified. He is a 23-year veteran of the department currently assigned to the traffic division.

The officer and the man on the bicycle were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where they are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said. The cyclist wore a helmet.

A man and woman inside the sub shop when the car ran into it were not injured.

Police are still investigating what caused the accident. Among the factors being looked into are weather, amount of light, speed, the medical conditions of the officer and the cyclist, Nollette said.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com.